Even with a winning record last season, Littleton High School boys basketball is expected to do better this time out.

The Lions finished with a 16-9 overall record last season with a fifth-place finish in the Continental League. Littleton earned a spot in the Class 5A state championship playoffs but lost in the second round. The first round was the team’s first post-season win in five years.

Under the coaching of Ray Van Heukelem, in his third year with Littleton, the Lions return two key starters from last year in Lee Hosey and Marcus Parry. Both received honorable mention all-conference honors last year.

Parry, a senior this season, led the team in three-point shooting and two-point field goal percentage at 60 percent. He finished his junior year with 153 points total, 50 points more than his sophomore season. His shooting percentage from his sophomore year to junior has almost doubled; however, Parry is reputed mostly for his defense skills.

“He just recognizes what’s going on on the floor. He can shut people down,” Van Heukelem said of Parry.

Hosey, also a senior this year, is possibly one of the top 10 centers in the state, the coach said.

“He has developed a very nice short game with his back to the basket,” Van Heukelem said. “Other teams are starting to recognize his talent. He has become a very big force in our area. … He has a good outside game. He can hit three-point shots too, and for a center that’s nice.”

Last year, Hosey averaged about 10.5 points per game. On defense, he averaged 11 rebounds a game, six offensive and five defensive.

Also, Tevin Tyson, Kyle McCaslin and Peter Blei are expected to have a say on the Lions success this season.

“It should be a better team effort than last year,” the coach said.

Van Heukelem said the defending state champions Regis, ThunderRidge, Chaparral and Heritage should be strong in the league this season, while Gateway, Douglas County, Rangeview and Mountain Vista are supposed to be rebuilding.